Biotransformation of the marine sesquiterpene pacifenol by a facultative marine fungus

Abstract

Continued investigation of the marine alga Laurencia claviformis has led to the isolation of pacifenol, a halogenated sesquiterpene as the major metabolite. The microbial transformation of pacifenol is reported. It was cultivated with a marine strain of Penicillium brevicompactum yielding a new compound. The structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The anti-microbial activity of pacifenol derivatives is reported.

Keywords:

• Laurencia claviformis
• biotransformation
• sesquiterpene
• pacifenol

Acknowledgements

This work was subsidised by FONDECYT (Chile, Grant No. 1040895) and Proyecto Anillo ACT-38. The experiments conducted comply with the current laws of Chile.